26 Feb Hopes & Habits (Because you can’t have uphill hopes and downhill habits) Part 22
This month we have been sharing “Four Biblical Habits” that will radically change your life:
- Focus on firsts (Matt. 6:33).
- Foster new thoughts (Rom. 12:2).
- Find your purpose (Eph. 2:10)
To assist you with this last week we began sharing “Seven Purpose Principles”:
- You have a purpose (Eph. 2:10).
God created us, we did not (see Psalm 100:3). Therefore He knows how we will function at our best and highest. The Bible tells us, “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which He foreordained from the beginning of time that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
The Greek word translated “workmanship” is the word “poema” (we get our English word ‘poem’ from it). You are God’s special, original poem. God created you uniquely for a unique purpose. Our life becomes more and more pain free when we align ourselves with His purpose! However, aren’t you glad God doesn’t want to replace us…He wants to repair us!
Remember this: Live your life by God’s design not human default.
This week we continue with…
2. You must have purpose beyond your pain.
When we are in pain we are self-consumed. Have you ever been to a new hotel and gotten up to use the restroom in the middle of the night? Have you ever stubbed your toe on one of those heavy hotel desks? If that has ever happened to you I promise you when you whacked your toe you did not scream out, “I want to feed orphans in Africa!” No, all you could focus on was the throbbing pain in your toe!
Pain releases selfishness. That’s why we must have purpose beyond our pain.
I know of a pastor who took a counseling appointment with a woman in his church. When she came in she sat down and began to immediately complain and lament about her life. Her finances were inadequate, her health was failing, and her relationships were less than stellar. On and on she went until finally the pastor leaned over his desk and asked her point blank, “What do you do well?” She looked at him and asked incredulously, “What do I do well?!” She then began to ponder his question and after a few seconds she retorted, “I make awesome chocolate chip cookies.” The pastor then encouraged her to make dozens and dozens of those tasty cookies and take them to nursing homes and women’s prisons and orphanages and give them away in the name of the Lord.
Well after being a little put off by what she initially considered a flippant response to all of her troubles…she did just that…she made hundreds of cookies and gave them away to people who were hurting worse than she was! Over time she developed a ministry giving away her cookies in which thousands have given their lives to Jesus!
Remember this: You can’t be a selfish person and live a significant life!
Next month we will continue our series!